Kraftwerk "Tour De France" (1983)

[rotator]

<a href="http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b54/eternalux8/?action=view¤t=834962.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b54/eternalux8/834962.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

This, unfortunately, was the last really stunning (read:beautiful, gorgeous), important release from one of my absolute favorites. My favorite track from Kraftwerk to put a fine point on it.

It took three years after this single until Kraftwerk got it together enough to put out 'Musique Non Stop' which I always viewed as more as an E.P.....by 1986 , either by design or evolution, Kraftwerk was being eclipsed sonically by other electronic bands, and other artists using electronics within their music. Not that 'Musique Non Stop' was a bad record, quite the contrary, it was quite inventive, and saw Kraftwerk reaching back 'The Man Machine' era for more pop oriented tracks ('The Model' for example is not really too dissimilar from 'Sex Object'). Also, it can not be ignored that sonically, Depeche Mode stole every bleep and bloop for their own (stunning) 'Violator' record 4 years later.

'Tour De France' was a departure from 'Computer World' production wise. Less muddy, the track is crisp and majestic. Less paranoid sounding, as Ralf & Florian are dealing with a subject matter, they seem to really enjoy (biking). Whereas tracks like 'Home Computer' sound as if you should be shuddering in a dark corner as your monitor pulses evil. 'Tour De France' really allows you to breath, quite literally the song 'breaths', cleaver use of early samplers provide a nice foil to the beautiful melodies in this track, and drum programming that would, essentially, start the second beats revolution.

I always liked a quote I read from Andy McCluskey of Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark in Smash Hits (of all places) (around the time of 'Dazzle Ships', and I paraphrase): "We always wanted to be like Kraftwerk, but we tend to beat around the bush. Kraftwerk are able to approach a subject straight on without editorial"

...Like a real excellent beating over the head.

Rating: (*****) 5 out of 5 stars

[obs]

Tour De France is a fucking incredible track.

The love the intro on Minimum-Maximum. The projection of the record sleeve, with moving cyclists, was cool, too.

[MetaMatrix]

i always prefered the francois kevorkian remix from 1984 over kw's original version(s) , as it added a certain "edge" to it that made it even better - imho , of course ! [8D]

[rotator]

[quote][i]Originally posted by MetaMatrix[/i]
<br>i always prefered the francois kevorkian remix from 1984 over kw's original version(s) , as it added a certain "edge" to it that made it even better - imho , of course ! [8D]
[/quote]

kevorkian's mix is great too, really this review is for all of the initial versions, not to be confused with the terrible new version...